Wedge.



H. E. FRASHER.

WBDGE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. a.l 1912.'.

Patented June 17, 1913.

@MQ/MO5 H12-Fra sh erfter/"m S @UNITED STATES PATENT orrioa HARRY E.FBASHEB, or DENVER, coiioiznno.

wanen.-

To all whom it may concern.'

y Be it known that I, HARRY E. FRASHER, a citizen of the United States,residing at hereby declare the following to be a full,

clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and: use thesame. y

This invention relates to wedges, and has for its principal object toprovide a device of this character which is particularly adapted to beused in connection with hainmers, axes, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide .a wedge which is soconstructed' as to receive a locking element and retain the latteragainst accidental movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wedge of the characterdescribed which is extremely simple in construction, is therefore cheapto manufacture, and is .capable of being readily applied.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully.described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out inthe claims hereto appended; it bein understood that various changes inthe form, proportion, size and minor details of construction within thescope of the claims may be resorted to without departing from the spiritor lsacrilicing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawing: Figure 1 is a detail elevation of a hammer, partsthereof being shown in section to better disclose my invention, Fig. 2is a transverse sectional view` taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, thelocking element being shown in elevation, and Fig. 3 is a perspectiveview of the wedge.

Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts in all the figuresof the drawing. y

Referring to the drawing, 5 designates a hammer, ax, or any othersuitable head which is positioned upon one end ofa suitable handle 6.

My inyention comprises a wedge 7 which is formed from a single castingof metal, and is formed with an arcuate entering edge 8 and a centrallydisposed opening 9. The wall of this opening adjacent the enteringSpecification of Letters Patent.

edge to form a central edge 12. Centrally formed in the .butt end of.the wedge is a longitudinally disposed opening 13, and it will beobserved that this opening is disposed in alinement with said centraledge 12.

metal and is cent-rally bent upon itself to form a pair of opposedspring` arms 15-15, the inner faces of the lower ends being outwardlybeveled, as at 16-16.

In applying this wedge, the wedge is first driven into the handle 6 aswill be readily understood, and the locking element 15 is then projectedinto the opening 13. This element is forced downwardly under theiniuence of hammer blows or the like and the beveled en'ds 16 are causedto engage with the central edge 12. Upon further blows the element willbe forced into the handle in such a manner that the arms 15 will becaused to spread and thereby engage the handle to retain the wedgeagainst outward movement. It is to be observed that as the lockingelement is so positioned, the opposedJ beveled edges r11-11 of the wedgecoperate with the beveled edges 16-16 of the ele-- ment to spread thearms of the latter. When the element is driven home the spring armswhich have been spread as above de- 8 is oppositely beveled, as at10-10,`

y Patented J une 17,1913. y Alipiieation med laren a, 1912. seri-n.1 imman, f l

y My invention further comprises a locking Ielement -14 which is formedfrom spring scribed, will frictionally bear against'the y walls of theopening 13 and thereby look said element against accidental outwardmovement. It will furthermore be observed that the wood of the handle 6will be caused to partially enter the opening 9 of the wedge, asindicated by the reference numerals 17 17 By this means the wood willserve to further lock the wedge against outward movement.

What is claimed is 1. A metal wedge including an entering edge and abutt end having a lateral opening centrally formed therein, said wedgebeing further formed at its but-t end with a longitudinal openingcommunicating with said lateral opening; in combination with a lockingelement including opposed spring arms for engagement in the longitudinalopening of the wedge and having beveled inner ends for engagement withthe wall of the lateral opening to force said arms outwardly under theinfluence of hammer blows, whereby the outer end of the arms 2. A metalwedge including an arcuate entering edge and a butt end having a lateralopening centrally formed therein, the Wall of said opening adjacenttheentering edge being oppositely beveled to form a central edge, saidWedge being further formed at its butt end With a cent-rally disposedlongitudinal opening communicating with said lateral opening; incombination with a locking element formed from a single length of springmetal centrally bent to form opposed arms for engagement inthelongitudiieame f nal opening of the wedge, the inner faces of the innerends of said arms being outwardly beveled for engagement with lthebeveled Wall of the lateral opening to Spread said arms whereby theouter ends of lsaidarms Will friotionally engage the Wall of thelongitudinal opening and retain theelement against movement.

In testimony whereof, I aiiix my signature, in presence of twoWitnesses.

` HARRY E. FRASHER. `Witnesses:

Moses H. MASON, MARY A. LAMBERT.

